MP Peter Hain added to the bill at literature festival

A LAST minute speaker has been added to the line up at this year's Chipping Campden Literature Festival, which explores a War and Peace theme.

Peter Hain, who has been MP for Neath since 1991, has agreed to speak at the festival on Thursday, May 8.

Mr Hain, who came to the fore in the 1970s with his campaign against South African sports and was Leader of the House of Commons from 2003 to 2005, will be presenting Ad & Wal, his recently published affectionate memoir of his parents Adelaine and Walter Hain.

His parents were English-speaking white South Africans, who spent years trying to protect anti-apartheid activists.

He is speaking as part of a morning devoted to South African PEN authors which will include poet AE Ballakisten, and journalist, broadcaster and author Tim Butcher, who is presenting Blood River.

The morning begins at 9.30am in the Upper Room of the Town Hall and tickets are £8.

The festival which runs from Tuesday, May 6 to Sunday, May 11, celebrates the joy of reading, the art of writing, the beauty of books and the sharing of ideas.

For a downloadable programme and booking form, visit .campdenlitfest.co.uk. Tickets will also be available on the door.